"Given that Tesla has never made an annual profit in the almost 15 years since we have existed, profit is obviously not what motivates us."

I would be interested to hear what is long term business model is. Considering the fact he obviously isn't interested in profit?

Profit's not what is motivating this... staying afloat past this calendar year is the motivation.

I'm not a Tesla fan boy and honestly don't think I'd ever own a full electric vehicle unless I didn't have any other choices, but I have been pulling for them to do well. At this point though, it just feels like if the Model 3 fails to meet it's lofty expectations (sales, production, etc) then Tesla has nothing left to offer their investors.

At this point though, it just feels like if the Model 3 fails to meet it's lofty expectations (sales, production, etc) then Tesla has nothing left to offer their investors.

I hate to see ANY American business fail. But the fact is if they, (Tesla), haven't turned a profit in 15 years, it's doubtful they're ever going to. Electric cars, especially the really nice models that Tesla sells, are much too expensive for what they offer. Namely very limited range. Coupled with too much downtime for recharging.

Private business has got to be profitable in order to survive. Space-X is in much the same boat. They have incredible rockets that can do fantastic things. But if they can't do these things at some level of profitability, they will not survive. No business can run in the red forever. Regardless of how big of a dog and pony show they can put on with their products.

I just got back from a trip to Norway. Tesla S models are quite common there. And (strangely for a company that doesn't use a dealership system) I saw 2 Tesla dealerships.

Teslas are very expensive there but have other advantages - free charging, free parking, possibly avoidance of highway tolls, and a few others I can't recall. As high end cars are quite common there anyway, gasoline is very expensive, parking is expensive and road tolls are a regular feature, they might make sense.

"Given that Tesla has never made an annual profit in the almost 15 years since we have existed, profit is obviously not what motivates us."

I would be interested to hear what is long term business model is. Considering the fact he obviously isn't interested in profit?

Most of these unicorn companies are there to grow, and as long as they are growing to justify the "valuation" they are asking for, VC investors will fund another round, or some investors will buy their stocks.

The problem is sooner or later they have to deliver result, and when they don't, the only way forward would be a stock valuation crash or a white knight (i.e. Tencent recently) has to show up to pump more money in there.

I think Tesla would do OK in the long term as it is getting close to too big to fail in the battery market. They are a battery company also happen to build cars. In the short term however, their stock can be for a roller coaster ride.

SpaceX is a separate company and privately owned. It has capable management (with a proper COO, unlike Tesla) and doesn't have to answer to anyone expect its private shareholders.

Tesla's problems could affect it indirectly, if they would prevent Musk from being able to plow more of his personal wealth into SpaceX, but there would probably be other investors to take up the slack, and Musk's controlling interest in the company is actually worth more than his Tesla holdings as it stands.

If Tesla were to go under, it would affect Musk personally, but not SpaceX directly.

I just got back from a trip to Norway. Tesla S models are quite common there. And (strangely for a company that doesn't use a dealership system) I saw 2 Tesla dealerships.

Teslas are very expensive there but have other advantages - free charging, free parking, possibly avoidance of highway tolls, and a few others I can't recall. As high end cars are quite common there anyway, gasoline is very expensive, parking is expensive and road tolls are a regular feature, they might make sense.

"free charging, free parking, possibly avoidance of highway tolls"The "free ride" will change as soon as everyone not on the "free ride" gets tired of paying for it.No matter where this is Norway, North America, etc.

When Hyundai started offering Korean cars in N. America in the mid 80's, nobody thought they'd make it either.Fast forward 20 years and they are gaining market share over their Japanese and American rivals.

The world wants something different, new and fresh (I don't, but I'm not in the majority) and Tesla is willing to offer it.Only a matter of time until these alternate fuel vehicles become the norm.